Discussion, tips, pictures, reviews and peer to peer support for current and future owners of Belquette manufactured machines, including the MOD-1 DTG machine and the Flexi-Jet set series of printers.
I've read a lot in this and other forums but this is my first entry. From my reading, I have narrowed my selection down to 2 machines. Next Friday my sons/partners and I are going to see a demo of the HM1 in Baltimore then continue to Phili to see the Flexi-Jet. The machine will be used for a wide range of shirts from artsy one-offs to orders for dozens of work shirts. Naturally, our prioities are machine dependability, print quality, durability/washability of the finished product. So, we would appreciate any suggestions as to features to look for in each machine during the demos.
Thanks,
Bruce
I've read a lot in this and other forums but this is my first entry. From my reading, I have narrowed my selection down to 2 machines. Next Friday my sons/partners and I are going to see a demo of the HM1 in Baltimore then continue to Phili to see the Flexi-Jet. The machine will be used for a wide range of shirts from artsy one-offs to orders for dozens of work shirts. Naturally, our prioities are machine dependability, print quality, durability/washability of the finished product. So, we would appreciate any suggestions as to features to look for in each machine during the demos.
Thanks,
Bruce
Bruce,
Thank you for your interest in considering the Flexi-Jet, there are hundreds of units in the field and is now quite a mature product.
As the actual manufacturers of the Flexi-jet Belquette understands the technology from the ground up and our reps get definitive no nonsense answers when they ask.
The HM1 is based on the moving head Flexi-concept which has it's benefits.
Here are some of the obvious differences:
The heart of the Flexi's print engine is based on a professional series 4800 print engine, the HM1 is based on a 2400 series lighter duty print engine.
The Flexi can print up to 17" (42cm) wide, the HM1 is limited to 13" (32.5)cm wide. The maximum drop size of the 4800 is 21 pl compared to 13pl, what this means is you will need to print at a higher resolution with the HM1 to get the same amount of ink coverage with the Flexi. That said the 2400 is quite efficient in the way the ink head travels while printing which compensates for the smaller drop size as far as print speed is concerned.
Another fact is that the duty cycle on the 4800 is greater than the 2400 print engine. The nice part about the Flexi is that the printer is a separate module that simply sits on the moving bed. This makes it very simple to service or replace the print engine if the need arises, rather than the entire machine.
As you may determine, dollar-for-dollar the Flexi is a much better bang for the buck.
If you have any additional questions regarding the Flexi-Jet flatbed printing system please feel free to call Belquette directly as well as you contact at All American supply.
I would also like to mention that anyone is welcome to come by for a demo by appointment at Belquette or All American Supply.
Belquette,
Thanks for your detailed reply. This is just the kind of information I'm looking for. Since you are involved in the manufacturing, can you let me know if there is any new technology in the pipeline that is worth waiting for?
We own a Flexi-jet. The last few days we have been printing on hard substrates rather than t-shirts. The versatility is what sold us initially- and we take advantage of it often.
Mistywoods,
Excellent! This fits right in with our concept of "Customized Gifts". It may not be a hard surface but we bought canvas growth charts for embroidery and we were talking about how this would be a great item to decorate with DTG. I'll keep my mind open to other items. I assume that the items have to go in the heat press as well, right?
Belquette,
Thanks for your detailed reply. This is just the kind of information I'm looking for. Since you are involved in the manufacturing, can you let me know if there is any new technology in the pipeline that is worth waiting for?
While this forum is not intended for manufacturing promotions a good place to view new and upcoming technologies would be at the SGIA show in October.
There will be some new developments in the flatbed arena that may be of interest for your multi-substrate needs coming soon.
We have printed on tons of canvas tote bags and mouse pads- they are cured in the heat press the same as shirts.
But we have also printed things like golf balls, baseballs, plastics, puzzles, pre-stretched canvas,wood. These are pre-coated with an Ink Receptive Coating ( Ink Aid) which is air dried, printed and air dried, and then top coated and air dried- no heat.
If you followed this thread you deserve the results.
I have been objective to this point. If it is objectivity that you want please hit the back button. I have a strong opinion now that comes from my life experience and recent events.
I started with a list of about 15 features/issues to discuss with the representatives selling the HM1 (SWF) and the Flexi-Jet (All American). I expected to take home my spreadsheat ponder which machine I would buy. This didn't happen.
First I will go a little into the Flexi demo. Although I had made an appointment they did not seem to expect me. The representative I was speaking to was in the middle of lunch and despite my urging to finish his lunch he dropped it and took me over to he Flexi machine. He said that someone else had worked on it and wasn't sure where they had left off. So, is was a little while until they got it back into working condition. One other thing where they lost points was Tagger/Spencer asked them to print a T-Shirt using a file he brought. They would not. I have done demos and I know that you don't want to introduce variables so we let that slide. We were left with the overall impression of the organization was that if what you a slick salesman that has an answer for everything go somewhere else. If you want an organization that will drop what they're doing and roll up thier sleeves this is the one.
During that time we asked questions from our list. (We being me and my two equal parnters/sons. During the questioning period Tagger/Jesse made a critical observation, "It lood like its more the user than the machine". Not to over state it but this means that you can give a good user an average machine and you will get a better shirt than if you give a great machine to poor user. This is more important than me giving you any fact about the Flexi.
The next most important event came when the machine was working and they printed out a shirt. Mind you we already saw a Kiosk print a shirt that morning in Baltimore. The Flexi shirt (for give the flame) KNOCKED OUR SOCKS OFF! Comparatively, the Kiosk shirt was as exciting as kissing your sister. You read about when colors pop but take it from me if you never really saw it, my describing it would bel like describing an orgasm to a virgin. (Enough with the analogies.)
The las thing I will impart about the Flexi was when we too the sample shirt outside we compared it to the SWF sample that were were mailed weeks earlier and had a chance to wash once. Admittedly, this was not an apples to apples comparison but it was DAY and NIGHT. We will Flexi shirt and let you know the results later.
I have not comparison with HM1. Why? We never saw it. I have heard only good things about it. That is why it was on my short list. Believe me we made 3 attempst to see it. As far as I am concerned it does not exist.
On to that life lesson that I mentioned. Either people are honest or not. The salesman from the company selling the HM1 said that we could see in at the show in Georgia. We are not made of money so my partner/son Tagger/Jesse drove from Virginia to Georgia to see it. It not being there was not the problem to me. The problem arose when Tagger/Jesse said that he was told that they did not have one to take to the show. I immediately called the salseman that told him that he was on my sh-- list. He said that they had them but were working on them. To me, either the guy at the show or the salesman lied. For me that is the end. My less experienced partners/sons, however, would be willing to give them another chance.
The salesman apologized and said that he wanted to make it up to us. They were having a show in Baltimore. That was yesterday. He would forgive the $25 admittance charge to try to make ammends. Guess what. There was no HM1 there either. Trying to head off my partner/son's contunuance of the forgiving attitude, I said "is this the company that you would believe if they told you that they give great service after the sale?" Game over.
I'm sorry for the verbosity. I just felt that some factors are more important than the difference between a 3.5" and 5" in printer to platen height. Facual comparisons can be gotten from manufacturers web sights.
PS remember when I said that is all about Flexi. I lied. Peter, the owner of the company came out to greet us. As we walked out Tagger/Jesse said that is when he "felt the love".
Tagger/Bruce
At the time we asked to print our file was when they were working on the machine. They weren't sure if they were going to get it working while we were there. When it did get working, we never got back to asking them to print our file.
Wow it sounds like the customer service at the dtg distributor you dealt with was completely the opposite of my experience. Not only did I go out to there wherehouse (the west coast office in anahiem) to see the hm1 there, I then seen it again at the long beach show. I called them constantly with questions which they answered them all and that was how I determined what machine to buy. Which was the HM1. I have been absolutely happy with the results of my machine. My experience here on the west coast was only positive with them, I too had determined alot of my choice on customer service as well as the quality of the product. I hope you have a great time with your machine, I know I do. I think any of the machines have the potential for success depending on the operator. Congrats on your new venture.
I just got my flexi L and i love it. I had a couple of problems off hand so I called my distributor. He went down, turned his machine on and walked me trough the process. Excellent. I really couldn't have asked for more. Ever since then its been happily printing!
The only chink in our plans to buy the Flexi is, having read ticklers about new technology at the October show in Orland, should we wait until after the show before we sign on the dotted line?
Are you planning on going to the show? If not, I guess I don't see the real benefit of waiting for the primary purpose that I don't think anyone should buy a dtg machine untill the see it in person. Yes, there are going to be new machines out there. Some will be made here in the U.S., while others come from overseas. There might be some new bells / whistles on them. They might even be cheaper. But, you still need to see them first-hand. If you could make it to the show in 3 or so weeks, then I think you should absolutely wait.
Just keep in mind that all of these machines have some type of learning curve (some are easier than others depending on white ink or not). So, if you are going to try and get it up and running prior to the holiday seasons...you will need to make a decision pretty close to the close of the SGIA Show.
Going to HM1 and Flexi demos 
